Poll: Half of Americans believe U.S. morals are 'poor'

June 1 (UPI) — Nearly half of Americans believe the country’s morals are “poor” and more than three-quarters believe they’re getting worse, a Gallup poll released Friday indicates.

The survey found that 49 percent of Americans rate U.S. morals as “poor,” the highest percentage since Gallup started asking the question in 2002. Thirty-seven percent say American values are “only fair” and 14 percent say they’re “excellent” or “good.”

The previous high “poor” rating — 45 percent — came in 2017, 2015 and 2010. The highest “excellent” or “good” rating was 23 percent in 2011.

When asked whether U.S. morals were getting worse, 77 percent agreed, while 18 percent said morals were getting better. Between 81 percent and 82 percent of people polled from 2006 to 2008 believed moral values were declining.

Gallup said there was little difference between Democrats and Republicans in their views on U.S. morals. On a scale from minus 100 (everyone thinks morals are “poor” and getting worse) to plus 100 (everyone believes morals are “excellent” or “good” and getting better), Democrats scored minus 46 while Republicans scored minus 48. There was greater partisan divide on the issue during President George W. Bush and President Barak Obama‘s terms, with Republicans being more likely to believe morals are “poor.”

“While Americans during this time have shifted a great deal toward saying many issues are morally acceptable, the vast majority continue to believe moral values overall are worsening,” Gallup said.

“Though the question wording makes no reference to politics or the president, Americans seem to rate U.S. moral values through their own partisan lenses — with both Democrats and Republicans having become less negative after the election of a president of their own party over the past decade.”

Gallup surveyed 1,024 adults in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia from May 1-10 for the poll. The margin of error was 4 percent.